Bishop
T. Larry Kirkland - Chair, Commission on Publications
The Reverend Dr.
Johnny Barbour, Jr., Publisher
The Reverend Dr.
Calvin H. Sydnor III, the 20th Editor, The Christian Recorder
March:
Women’s History Month
National Kidney
Month (March 14th – National kidney Day)
Mark and Save Date in your Calendars:
Easter Sunday – March 31, 2013
AME Church
Connectional Day of Prayer – April 13, 2013
Pentecost Sunday
May 19, 2013
General Board
Meeting - June 22-26, 2013
Bishop Sarah F.
Davis Investiture – June 24, 2013
This is a
modified edition of The
Christian Recorder Online sent from Hampton, Virginia. Editor Sydnor will
be preaching at St. Paul AME Church in Newport News, Virginia Sunday, March
17 at the 11 a.m. worship service.. A full issue of The Christian Recorder Online will be published next
week.
1. GETTING TO
ZERO AND HALF THE SKY - PART 2:
by Dr. Oveta Fuller
A Tracy Chaplain song lyric asks, “Why do the babies starve, when there is
enough food to feed the world?”
An earlier writing in Woman’s History Month described an AMEC-run community
school in Lusaka for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) where five of
the six teachers and the School Coordinator are female. The teachers are
committed to addressing education needs of some of the 1,000,000 OVCs in
Zambia. In this school and throughout the country, women are the major
direct care providers.
Children at the church-run school must bring a lunch. Children who can
bring lunch have a full eight hours of classes and learning. For those who
cannot, school ends several hours early so classroom learning does not have
to compete with the demands of an empty stomach.
Media images of Africa sometimes show malnourished children and adults in
drought stricken or war torn places. Such images are not commonplace, at
least not visibly so, in Lusaka or any place I have been so far. Such
images are not frequent in Zambia.
However, access to adequate food and portable water is an ever present
issue.
Access to food, water and resources was mentioned frequently during the
2013 commemorations of International Women’s Day. Mostly it is women who
cultivate, harvest and sell the bountiful vegetables and produce found at
roadside markets. Unfortunately, these small business efforts have not
progressed to the next level of coordinated food production or large scale
farming.
All over the world, International Women’s Day events brought attention to
achievements and continuing struggles of women and girls. In speeches and
interviews in Lusaka, improving economical and education opportunities,
stopping gender-based violence, preventing infection by HIV/AIDS,
eliminating childbirth mortality and reducing impact of breast and cervical
cancer were stated as priority government goals. President Michael Sata and
other officials announced specific initiatives to boost land ownership and
entrepreneurship for women.
One speaker summarized his perspective on why the urgency of progress for
women, “When the woman is unhappy, the whole house is unhappy. When a man
is unhappy, no one notices.”
Why would a woman be unhappy in Zambia?
Do most women embrace roles of child-bearer, care-giver, home maker and
food provider along with other expectations? How many women in Zambia, and
around the globe, fulfill such roles while they enjoy a stable, faithful
loving relationship with a trusted provider, partner and friend? How many
women are not in such relationships and thus are vulnerable to the
possibility of contracting a sexually transmitted microbe or disease (STDs)
as they fulfill expected sexual engagement? Why would a woman risk
contracting HIV or other pathogens from a partner that they know is
sexually involved with another person? This could be while he is away from
the family for work or travel, or even while he is living in the same city?
How do women deal with the options from an estimate made by some of one
eligible, reasonably together male, to every four eligible females?
These questions are relevant to understanding the spread of HIV/AIDS.
When money is available, nutritious food in Zambia is highly accessible --
from roadside markets, growing your own, buying at the modern supermarkets
that teem with shoppers, or simply from stopping in unannounced at the home
of family or friends. You likely will be invited to share nshima (a staple
that is made of ground corn meal and used somewhat like rice or potatoes),
greens or whatever the home can offer.
Without money, or a means to earn an income, attaining adequate food, water
and other needs becomes a daily challenge. If you do not live with parents
or a close relative, or are not in a stable trusted reciprocal
relationship, choices and decisions change.
If you stopped formal education at grade level four (for example, when the
free church-run school ended), opportunities to generate income and life
options are more limited. To ensure access to food and resources for
herself and her children, a woman may have to do what she would prefer not
to do. She may take physical and emotional risks.
What has any of this to do with eliminating HIV/AIDS?
HIV is a fragile virus that takes advantage of human sexuality as its major
means of moving from person to person. Globally, women make up over 50% of
the newly diagnosed infections with HIV. Because of physiology, economical
dependency and some cultural traditions, women are more vulnerable to
infection from exposure to HIV. When a woman is infected by HIV, without
anti-retroviral intervention, the virus may spread at birth to her child.
Thus, some OVCs are also HIV+. What happens for women and girls directly
relates to elimination of HIV/AIDS.
To stop HIV/AIDS will require changing what now occurs for many women and
girls.
To stop HIV spread will require ownership and accountability by men who are
husbands, fathers, brothers, lovers, partners, sons and friends of women
and girls. It will require that men set a new norm in living out the highly
regarded position as guardians of their family. This includes its health
and well-being. It requires that a man will choose NOT to take advantage of
the availability of multiple sex partners. It may require going against
what some in secular society think is acceptable. It requires cherishing
faithful relationships where no one puts themselves at risk of bringing HIV
into the home.
To stop HIV/AIDS will require that a man holds himself, his brother and his
friends accountable for the well-being of family and community.
To stop HIV/AIDS will require that women and girls are taught to recognize
and embrace their roles as equal partners under law and under God. They
must have options available other than providing sex as a means to attain
the resources that allow care of self and children.
Women can support one another in this. We can help to educate one another,
provide opportunities for one another and encourage one another. We can
work toward a common goal of economic empowerment and self-determination.
We can contribute to attaining these for sisters, mothers and daughters
regardless of their or our income, socio-economic status or marital status.
If my sister is not free, neither am I. If my sister is oppressed, so am I.
I am my sister’s keeper. I am my brother’s keeper. I am to love my neighbor
as I love myself. In loving myself, I will make every effort to do no harm
to my family, my legacy, my future.
Consistent use of the ABCs of HIV prevention will move all towards zero new
HIV infections. The ABCs are: Abstinence from sexual intercourse and
direct contact with blood or blood products, or Being faithful to one
partner who is faithful to you. And if not these, always Correct use of
Condoms at every sexual encounter to prevent exposure to HIV.
A modified Tracy Chapman lyric might state, “Why does HIV continue to
spread, when we have the means to block every path of entry into the body?”
Spread of HIV is influenced by complex socio-behavioral issues. Untangling
and eliminating these will require empowerment, protection, respect for and
honor to women and girls. They hold up at least half the sky.
Note: A future writing will explore perspectives of men who hold up the
other half of the sky. Insights invited.
2. CHURCH SCHOOL
LESSON BRIEF FOR SUNDAY, MARCH 10, 2013: ‘DANIEL’S VISION OF CHANGE’ (DANIEL
7:9-14):
*Brother Bill Dickens
Gabriel’s
Interpretation: Daniel 8:19-26
Basic Need
According to Irish tradition, St. Patrick used the three-leaf clover as a
metaphor to teach Irish non-Christians the meaning of the Trinity in 432
AD. Metaphors are useful and needed to help us understand
complicated issues. In the Book of Daniel (Chapter 8: 19-26), the
prophet is confronted with a complicated and confusing vision. God
dispatches the angel Gabriel to help Daniel demystify his vision with the
aid of metaphors. Understanding life’s esoteric challenges may be too
great for us to solve alone. As Daniel learned, it helps having a
divine tutor to navigate through the thicket of ambiguity for clarity.
Buckle up, for the March 17, 2013 AME Adult Church School lesson is filled
with suspense, drama and action that would make Steven Spielberg blush with
envy. Let’s Ride!
Basic Lesson
Daniel Chapter 8 explores Biblical Geography, Biblical History, Biblical
Zoology and Biblical Prophecy. Daniel’s vision includes animals as
metaphorical symbols to communicate historical and prophetic truths.
Gabriel explains to Daniel that the ram with the two horns represents the
two kingdoms of Media and Persia. The powerful goat with one horn
crashes into the ram and breaks both horns. The goat represents
Greece under the reign of Alexander the Great conquering both
kingdoms. Years later, the goat’s horn disintegrates into four
smaller parts symbolizing the division of Alexander’s kingdom among his four
generals. From the ashes a manipulative, conniving ruler will rise,
bringing havoc and destruction (Anti-Christ) and even challenge (verses
23-25) the Prince of princes, aka, Jesus (v 25). Daniel is instructed
to not disclose these profound truths until the appointed time. The
events described in Daniel’s vision are historically corroborated. God’s
Word is fulfilled two centuries later when Jesus appears and confronts the
last kingdom, Rome.
Basic
Application
Friedrich Nietzsche, a prominent 20th century atheist philosopher, once
stated, “All things are subject to interpretation. Whichever interpretation
prevails at a given time is a function of power and not truth.” But,
is it true that power usurps truth? Lawyers interpret complex laws.
Psychologists interpret dissonant behavioral tendencies. Foreign
language interpreters provide a communication bridge between two parties
that speak dissimilar languages. Today’s lesson illustrates how
Gabriel effectively interpreted Daniel’s vision in order to expedite his
(Daniel’s) understanding of what is and what is to come. An
interpreter can take the form of a teacher, friend, pastor, spouse, mentor
or even an angel. As long as we remain open to God’s will we
too might encounter an angelic intervention in our lives (see Hebrews 13:2)
and gain a better understanding of our own mysteries. In conclusion,
a true and living God is greater than a dead philosopher (Nietzsche)!
3.
MEDITATION BASED ON HEBREWS 13:1-10:
I’m writing this meditation after doing something that I haven’t done in
almost fifteen years - clearing out my church office to move to a new
assignment. When I wrote last week’s meditation, I was headed to the
AME Church’s Seventh Episcopal District Mid-Year Conference as the Pastor
of Morris Brown AME Church, with the expectation that there would be no
change in my assignment. I left the Mid-Year Conference as the newly
assigned Presiding Elder of the Beaufort District of the Seventh Episcopal
District of the AME Church’s South Carolina Annual Conference.
Reassignments in the AME Church come without prior notice and with little
time to say goodbye to those in one’s old church family, but reassignments
also come with new blessings. Those blessings for me include the
opportunity to do new things in the thirty-three churches of the Beaufort
District, the warm welcome already extended by the pastors and members of
those churches, and the simple but laborious experience of clearing out my
office.
Clearing out my office meant running across things that have been packed
away and unseen for years - old awards and souvenirs, old meeting agendas,
old worship bulletins and many other things, not only from Morris Brown,
but from my prior four church assignments as well. Those things
reminded me of the roads I’ve traveled in nearly thirty-six years of
ministry and of the many accompanying blessings, and they also offered
reassurance that new blessings are in store in the Beaufort District.
I offer my “transition” experience to you in a world that often brings
unexpected and unanticipated changes in all of our lives. Life’s
times of transition can sometimes bring us stress, fear and uncertainty
that can hamper and hinder us and cause us to worry about what lies
ahead. When we remember, however, that the God who created us and
blesses us is always with us, then worry will be replaced with new hope,
new inspiration, new joy and new possibilities.
Remember that when new changes come your way, whether they be in
employment, in relationships, in residence, in physical and emotional
well-being or in any other area of life. Trust in the Lord and you
can weather the changes, for the changes really aren’t that
important. What’s important is that God will be with us and bless us
regardless of where life’s roads lead us, even in a world of changes.
That’s what led one hymn writer to say, “Before the hills in order stood,
or earth received her frame, from everlasting, Thou art God, to endless
years the same.”
Get Ready for Sunday, and have a great day in your house of worship!
This “transitional” meditation comes with my thanks to and prayers and best
wishes for those in the Morris Brown AME Church family, who have received
these meditations for the past couple of years, and with my best wishes to
and prayers for the Reverend Doctor Charles Watkins, who will now ably lead
the Morris Brown family to new blessings.
This “transitional” meditation also comes with best wishes to those beyond
the Morris Brown AME Church family, who will continue to receive Mid-Week Meditations,
and to the pastors and people of the Beaufort District who will now receive
them weekly – feel free to share them!
4. EPISCOPAL /
CLERGY FAMILY CONGRATULATORY ANNOUNCEMENTS:
-- Bishop E.
Earl McCloud and Episcopal Supervisor Pat Russell-McCloud Celebrated 30th
Anniversary of Marriage
Bishop E. Earl McCloud, 127th Elected and Consecrated Bishop of the African
Methodist Episcopal Church and Episcopal Supervisor Pat Russell-McCloud,
J.D., celebrated their 30th Anniversary of Marriage on Tuesday, March 12,
2013.
Anniversary cards may be sent to:
Bishop and Supervisor E. Earl McCloud, Jr.
P. O. Box 310043
Atlanta, GA 31131-0043
Telephone: 404-277-3833
Or congratulatory messages can be emailed to:
Bishop E. Earl McCloud: emccloudjr@aol.com
Episcopal Supervisor Pat Russell-McCloud, J.D.: prmlink@aol.com
-- The Birth of
Brittnye Noel Reynolds, Granddaughter of Rev. and Mrs. Ronald Boykin
Congratulations are in order for the birth of Brittnye Noel Reynolds.
Brittnye was born on February 27, 2013 at 8:59 am. She is the daughter of
Leon and Rokisha Reynolds, and the granddaughter of Rev. and Mrs. Ronald
Boykin. Rev. Ronald Boykin is the distinguished pastor of First A.M.E.
Church of Manassas, Virginia (Washington Conference, Second Episcopal
District).
Congratulatory messages can be sent to:
Leon and Rokisha Reynolds: Rarreynolds2001@gmail.com
The Rev. & Mrs. Ronald Boykin: revboykin@aol.com
-- The
Rev. Dr. Glenell M. Lee-Pruitt named Provost/Vice President for Academic
Affairs at Jarvis Christian College
In August 2012, Rev. Dr. Glenell M. Lee-Pruitt joined the administrative
team of President Dr. Lester C. Newman at Jarvis Christian College in
Hawkins, TX as Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and
Professor in Social Work. She joined the team after leaving
Mississippi Valley State University in Itta Bena, Mississippi, where
she had served as the Dean of University College, Director of Community
Service Learning and Director of the Renaissance Learning Program.
On February 14, 2013, Jarvis President Dr. Lester C. Newman announced that
the interim title had been removed and that Dr. Lee-Pruitt was named the
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Jarvis Christian
College.
The Rev. Dr. Pruitt is the pastor of St. Matthew AME Church in Shreveport,
Louisiana in the Eighth Episcopal District where Bishop Julius McAllister,
Sr., is the Presiding Prelate and the Rev. Michele Goodloe is the Presiding
Elder. She earned her Bachelor of Social Work and Ph.D. in Social
Work from Jackson State University; her Master of Social Work from Temple
University; and her Master of Divinity from Payne Theological Seminary.
Email Addresses:
Glenell1@aol.com
and gpruitt@jarvis.edu
5. EPISCOPAL
FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
The Honorable Moses C. McClendon, the uncle of Supervisor Phyllis N. Green
(12th Episcopal District), departed this life on March 3rd. Mr.
McClendon of Richmond, Virginia, was the 26th international President of
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated. He retired from Lucent
Technologies, formerly AT&T after 29 years as inorganic chemist and
manager. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Grace McClendon; two
daughters, Chantelle and Michelle McClendon; one son, Moses McClendon II
(Sharon), two grandsons, Domenick Tillman and Moses McClendon III; two
brothers, Eugene (Mary) and James McClendon (Mary); a host of nieces,
nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.
Remains rest at Joseph Jenkins Jr. Funeral Home, 2011 Grayland Avenue,
Richmond, VA 23220 where the family will receive friends from 3 to 4PM on
Sunday.
Funeral services will be held Monday, March 11, 11 a.m. at Third Street
Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, 614 N. Third Street, Richmond,
VA , 23219, Rev. Godfrey Patterson, Pastor, officiating. Eulogist,
Rev. Rodger Hall Reed. The members of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity,
Incorporated will conduct an Omega Service at 10 a.m. prior to the funeral
service.
The Interment Mt. Calvary Cemetery
1400 S. Randolph Street
Richmond, VA 23220
Repast
Immediately following the funeral
All cards, gifts and flowers can be sent to:
Jenkins Funeral Home
2011 Grayland Avenue
Richmond, VA 23220
Or to:
Mrs. Grace J. McClendon
917 Penobscot Road
Richmond, VA 23227-1239
6. CLERGY FAMILY
BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to inform you of the passing of the Rev. Mabel Hall, (102 years
of age), one of the first women ordained as an Elder in the Africa
Methodist Episcopal Church in South Carolina. She was a member of
Heyward AME Church, Gaston, South Carolina.
Funeral Service for Rev. Mabel Hall:
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Family Visitation: 11:00 AM
Funeral Service: 12:00 Noon
Heyward AME Church
983 Old State Road
Gaston, S.C. 29053
Rev. Harold Conyers, Pastor and Eulogist
Services Entrusted to:
Pearson Funeral Home
4508 North Main Street
Columbia, SC 29203
Phone: 803 754-0664
Condolences may be sent to:
Mrs. Geneva Simpson (daughter of Rev. Mabel Hall)
243 Sugarhill Lane
Gaston, SC 29053
Phone: (803) 546-0560
Email: GenevaBrown37@yahoo.com
7. CLERGY FAMILY
BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We are saddened to share the untimely death of Mr. Christopher
Frazier. Christopher is the 21-year-old grandson of the Rev. Wallace
and Mrs. Merilyn Gunn. The Rev. Gunn is the pastor of St. James AME Church,
Covington KY.
Memorial Service has been planned for Sunday, March 17, 2013 at 4 p.m.
Emmanuel Baptist Church
3815 West Broadway, Louisville, KY 40211
Telephone: 502-776-0334
The Rev. Damien Thompson, Pastor
Contact:
The Rev. & Mrs. Wallace Gunn
4114 Royal Oak Drive
New Albany, IN 47150
w.gunn@insightbb.com
8. CLERGY FAMILY
BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to inform you of the passing of the Rev. Mabel Hall, (102 years
of age), one of the first women ordained as an Elder in the Africa
Methodist Episcopal Church in South Carolina. She was a member of
Heyward AME Church, Gaston, South Carolina.
Funeral Service for the Rev. Mabel Hall:
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Family Visitation: 11:00 AM
Funeral Service: 12:00 Noon
Heyward AME Church
983 Old State Road
Gaston, S.C. 29053
The Rev. Harold Conyers, Pastor and Eulogist
Services Entrusted to:
Pearson Funeral Home
4508 North Main Street
Columbia, SC 29203
Phone: 803 754-0664
Condolences may be sent to:
Mrs. Geneva Simpson (daughter of Rev. Mabel Hall)
243 Sugarhill Lane
Gaston, SC 29053
Phone: (803) 546-0560
Email: GenevaBrown37@yahoo.com
9. CLERGY FAMILY
BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
Please pray for the Rev. Ruth Phillips, Pastor of Allen Chapel A.M.E.
Church, Huntsville, Texas and family in the passing of her brother, Mr.
Aaron Berry, who went home to be with the Lord.
Funeral Service for Mr. Aaron Berry:
Saturday, March 16, 2013
11:00 a.m.
Palestine Missionary Baptist Church
112 Palestine Road
Oak Vale, Mississippi 39656
Professional Care entrusted to:
Johnson Funeral Home
P.O. Box 326
Prentiss, Mississippi 39474
Phone: 601-792-5629
Expressions of sympathy and condolences may be sent to the Rev. Ruth
Phillips:
Email: revrbphillips@minister.com;
telephone: 832-348-6118
10. CLERGY
FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
Please pray for the Rev. Mae Smith, Pastor of Mt. Olive AME Church in
Mineral Wells, Texas and her family. Mr. Sidney Thompson, the brother of
the Rev. Mae Smith went home to be with the Lord. The Rev. Mae Smith can be
contacted at (817) 966- 8295
Services for Mr. Sidney Thompson were held at noon Tuesday, March 12, at
Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church, 3000 Rural Street. Burial was in Sunset
Memorial Gardens. Arrangements were completed by Carl E. Ponds Funeral Home
2429 W. State St.
Online guest book:
http://www.legacy.com/guestbooks/rrstar/guestbook.aspx?n=sidney-thompson&pid=163529288&cid=full
11. CLERGY
FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
Please remember in prayer Rev. William Thomas Vaughn Jr. and family in the
passing of his father, William Thomas "Papa Vaughn" Vaughn Sr.
Services for William Thomas "Papa Vaughn" Vaughn Sr. have been
held.
Online Guest Book:
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dfw/obituary.aspx?n=william-thomas-vaughn-papa-vaughn&pid=163478426&fhid=2846&eid=sp_shareobit#storylink=cpy
12. CLERGY
FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to inform you of the passing of Brother Benjamin P. Mitchell,
father of the Rev. Anthony Mitchell, Sr., pastor of Union Chapel AME
Church, Newark, New Jersey. Brother Mitchell was a faithful member of
Nichols Chapel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina. The following
information has been provided regarding funeral arrangements.
Wake was held: Sunday, March 10, 2013
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Scott Funeral Home Inc.
1366 Hwy. 52
Moncks Corner, SC 29461
Telephone: 843-761-6444 / 843-761-4499
Fax: 843-761-7123
Funeral service was held: Monday, March 11, 2013
Nichols Chapel AME Church
57 Kennedy Street
Charleston, SC 29403
Telephone: 843- 577-7366 () ?
The Rev. Randolf Miller, pastor & eulogist
All resolutions should be sent to:
Scott Funeral Home Inc.
1366 Hwy. 52
Moncks Corner, SC 29461
Tel. 843-761-6444 / 843-761-4499
Fax # 843-761-7123
Email:scottsmortuary@yahoo.com
Cards, expressions of sympathy may be sent to:
Mrs. Annie
Mitchell
1725 Savage Rd. #224
Charleston, SC
29407
Tel.
843-852-2021
And
The Rev. Anthony Mitchell, Sr.
725 So. Center Street
Orange, NJ 07050
Tel. 973-677-0920
Email: revamitchell@gmail.com
13. CLERGY
FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to announce the passing on of Mrs. Mokgaetji Meriam Ncube, the
mother of the Rev. Alex Rametse Ncube, who transitioned on Thursday, March
7, 2013. Mrs. Ncube is survived by three children and 7 grandchildren. The
Rev. Ncube is the Pastor of Aganang AME Church, Polokwane District of the
19th Episcopal District. The Rt. Rev. PJM Kawimbe is the Presiding Prelate
of the 19th Episcopal District.
Service Arrangements for Mrs. MM Ncube:
Funeral Service:
Saturday, March 16, 2013 at 7:00 a.m.
DG Ming Chapel AME Church,
Phedile, Lebotlwane
RSA
Condolences may be emailed to the Rev. AR Ncube rev.ncube@gmail.com,
+27 82 055 2308 or Presiding Elder MDT Makhene thabom898@gmail.com
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